THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  JOHN  F.  SLATER  FUND 

Occasional  Papers,  No.  8 


REPORT 


OF  THE 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE 


1896 


BY 


JOHN  QUINCY  TOHNSON 

Formerly  In$truelor  in  MalhemcUica  in  the  Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial 
Institute,  Ala. 


BALTIMORE 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  TRUSTEES 
1 896 


Price  25  Cents 


THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  JOHN  F.  SLATER  FUND 

Occasional  Papers,  No.  8 


REPORT 

OF  THE 

FIFTH  TOSKECEE  HECBO  CONFERENCE 

1896 


BY 

JOHN  QUINCY  JOHNSON 

Formerly  Inslrwclor  in  Mathematics  in  the  Tuskegee  Normal  and  Industrial 
Institute,  Ala. 


BALTIMORE 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  TRUSTEES 
1896 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/reportoffifthtus00tusk_0 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  BOARD. 


Appointed. 

1882. 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  of  Ohio. 

*1893. 

1882. 

Morrison  R.  Waite,  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

*1888. 

1882. 

William  E.  Dodge,  of  New  York. 

*1883. 

1882. 

Phillips  Brooks,  of  Massachusetts. 

tl889. 

1882. 

Daniel  C.  Gilman,  of  Maryland. 

1882. 

John  A.  Stewart,  of  New  York. 

1882. 

Alfred  H.  Colquitt,  of  Georgia. 

*1894. 

1882. 

Morris  K.  Jesup,  of  New  York. 

1882. 

James  P.  Boyce,  of  Kentucky. 

*1888. 

1882. 

William  A.  Slater,  of  Connecticut. 

Elected. 

1883. 

William  E.  Dodge,  Jr.,  of  New  York. 

1888. 

Melville  W.  P'uller,  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

1889. 

John  .V.  Broadus,  of  Kentucky. 

*1895. 

1889. 

Henry  C.  Potter,  of  New  York. 

1891. 

J.  L.  M.  Curry,  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

1894. 

William  J.  Northen,  of  Georgia. 

1894. 

Ellison  Capers,  of  South  Carolina. 

tl895. 

1894. 

C.  B.  Galiaiway,  of  Mississippi. 

1895. 

-Alexander  E.  Orr,  of  New  York. 

1896. 

William  L.  Wil«on,  of  West  Virginia. 

From  1SS2  to  1891,  the  General  Agent  of  the  Trust  was  Rev.  A.  G.  Hay- 
OOOD,  D.  D.,  of  Georgia,  who  resigned  the  oflBce  when  he  became  a Bishop 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  Since  1891,  the  duties  of  a 
General  .\gent  have  been  discharged  by  Dr.  J.  L.  M.  Curky,  1736  M St., 
N.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C.,  who  is  Chairman  of  the  Educational  Committee. 


* Died  in  oflSce. 


t Resigned. 


ANNOUNCEMENT. 


The  Trustees  of  the  John  F.  Slater  Fund  propose  to  publish  from  time  to 
time  papers  that  relate  to  the  education  of  the  colored  race.  These  papers 
are  designed  to  furnish  information  to  those  who  are  concerned  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  schools,  and  also  to  those  who  by  their  official  stations  are 
called  upon  to  act  or  to  advise  in  respect  to  the  care  of  such  institutions. 

The  Trustees  believe  that  the  experimental  period  in  the  education  of 
the  blacks  is  drawing  to  a close.  Certain  principles  that  were  doubted  thirty 
years  ago  now  appear  to  be  generally  recognized  as  sound.  In  the  next 
thirty  years  better  systems  will  undoubtedly  prevail,  and  the  aid  of  the 
separate  States  is  likely  to  be  more  and  more  freely  bestowed.  There  will 
also  be  abundant  room  for  continued  generosity  on  the  part  of  individuals 
and  associations.  It  is  to  encourage  and  assist  the  workers  and  the  thinkers 
that  these  papers  will  be  published. 

Each  paper,  excepting  the  first  number  (made  up  chiefly  of  official  docu- 
ments), will  be  the  utterance  of  the  writer  whose  name  is  attached  to  it, 
the  Trustees  disclaiming  in  advance  all  responsibility  for  the  statement  of 
facts  and  opinions. 


THE  CALL  FOR  THE  CONFERENCE. 


The  Fifth  Tuskegee  Negro  Conference,  to  be  held 
IN  THE  Black  Belt  of  Alabama. 

The  Negro  Conferences  held  at  Tuskegee,  Alabama,  the  last 
four  years,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Tuskegee  Normal  and 
Industrial  Institute,  Tuskegee,  Alabama,  have  proved  so 
helpful  and  instructive  in  showing  the  masses  of  colored 
people  how  to  lift  themseh'es  up  in  their  industrial,  educa- 
tional, moral  and  religious  life,  and  have  created  so  much 
general  interest  throughout  the  country,  that  it  has  been 
decided  to  hold  another  session  of  this  Conference,  Thursday, 
March  5,  1896. 

The  aim  will  be,  as  in  the  four  previous  years,  to  bring 
together  for  a quiet  Conference,  not  the  politicians,  but  the 
representatives  of  the  common,  hard-working  farmers  and 
mechanics — the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  Negro  race — ministers 
and  teachers. 

Two  objects  will  be  kept  in  view — first,  to  find  out  from 
the  people  themselves  the  facts  as  to  their  condition  and  get 
their  ideas  as  to  the  remedies  for  the  present  evils — second,  to 
get  information  as  to  how  the  young  men  and  women  now  being 
educated  can  best  use  their  education  in  helping  the  masses. 

At  the  last  Conference  there  were  nearly  800  representa- 
tives present  and  a large  number  gave  encouraging  evidence 
of  how,  as  a result  of  previous  meetings,  homes  had  been 
secured,  school-houses  built,  scliool  terms  extended,  and  the 
moral  life  of  the  people  bettered. 

In  view  of  the  economy  which  the  people  have  been  forced 
to  practice  during  the  last  two  years,  owing  to  poor  crops  and 
low  prices  of  cotton,  this  Conference  will  present  an  excellent 
medium  through  which  to  teach  permanent  economy  and  thrift. 

5 


6 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


It  is  planned  to  devote  a portion  of  the  session  of  this 
Conference  to  a Woman’s  Conference. 

On  Friday,  March  6th,  the  day  following  the  Conference, 
there  will  be  a meeting  of  the  officers  and  teachers  of  the 
colored  schools  in  the  South,  who  may  be  at  the  Conference, 
for  the  purpose  of  comparing  views  and  taking  advantage  of 
the  lessons  that  may  have  been  gotten  from  the  Conference 
the  previous  day. 

It  is  believed  that  such  a meeting  for  the  elevation  of  the 
Negro,  held  in  the  Black  Belt,  with  the  lessons  and  impres- 
sions of  the  direct  contact  with  the  masses  of  the  colored 
people  the  previous  day  fresh  before  them,  can  only  result  in 
much  practical  good  to  the  cause  of  Negro  education. 

Aside  from  the  work  to  be  done  in  the  South  in  an  educa- 
tional and  moral  sense,  there  can  be  no  permanent  prosperity 
till  the  whole  industrial  system,  (especially  the  “ Mortgage 
System  ”)  is  revolutionized  and  put  on  a right  basis,  and  there 
can  be  no  better  way  to  bring  about  the  desired  result  than 
through  such  organizations  as  this  Negro  Conference. 

Further  information  about  the  Conference  may  be  had  from 

Booker  T.  Washington, 

Principal,  1 uskegee  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute, 
Tusliegee,  Ala. 

Note. — When  Mr.  Booker  T.  Washington  issued  the  call  for  the  first 
Negro  Conference,  Feb.  23, 1892,  he  thought  there  would  not  be  more  than 
seventy-five  who  would  respond,  but  to  his  surprise  nearly  500  came.  In 
February,  1893,  about  800  attended  the  conference,  representing,  it  is  safe 
to  say,  a negro  population  of  200,000.  In  1894  and  ’95  the  attendance  was 
increased  to  something  near  1000.  In  1895  and  ’96  and  especially  1896,  the 
conference  idea  had  become  so  prevalent  in  the  South,  that  there  were  repre- 
sentatives from  sister  conferences  which  had  been  formed  in  almost  every 
Southern  State  from  Virginia  to  Texas. 

Many  conventions  have  been  held,  and  many  resolutions  against  wrongs, 
real  and  imaginary,  have  been  passed  by  the  negro  of  the  South  since  the 
war.  But  the  Tuskegee  movement  seems  to  be  the  first  serious  effort  whose 
wisdom,  as  voiced  in  the  Conference  declarations,  is  approved  by  the  general 
suffrage  of  the  Nation,  North  and  South,  white  and  black.  It  certainly 
tends  to  make  the  negro  a free  man  in  deed  and  in  truth. 


J.  Q.  J. 


REPORT  OF  THE  CONFERENCE. 

1896. 


The  Opening. 

Another  Tuskegee  Negi’o  Conference  has  been  held.  Nearly 
one  thousand  country  people,  men  and  women,  attended  this 
session.  On  the  morning  of  March  5th  this  gathering  assem- 
bled in  the  Chapel  of  Porter  Hall,  one  of  the  buildings  of  the 
Normal  and  Industrial  Institute.  The  meeting  was  opened 
by  Bishop  Benjamin  T.  Tanner,  who  read  the  first  chapter  of 
Isaiah.  The  Conference  then  sang  that  old,  familiar  hymn, 
“ Amazing  Grace,  How  Sweet  the  Sound.”  Prayer  was  offered 
by  “Father”  Jeter,  who  has  attended  every  session  of  the 
Conference  from  the  beginning. 

At  this  juncture  Mr.  Warren  Logan,  Treasurer  of  the  Insti- 
tute, took  charge  of  the  meeting  and  began  to  explain  why 
Principal  Washington  was  not  present.  He  stated  that  the 
Principal  had  gone  to  New  York  to  speak  at  a missionary 
gathering  over  which  President  Cleveland  presided,  but  that 
he  hoped  Mr.  Washington  would  arrive  before  the  proceedings 
of  the  Conference  were  carried  very  far.  Just  at  this  point 
one  of  the  horny-handed  sons  of  the  soil  arose  and  said  : “ He’s 
done  come,”  which  was  not  more  than  uttered  when  Mr. 
Washington  entered  the  room,  in  the  midst  of  applause, 
accompanied  by  President  Meserve,  of  Shaw  University. 

Mr.  Washington,  in  his  opening  remarks  to  the  Conference, 
said  : “ I want  to  thank  you  for  your  presence  to-day.  I 

7 


8 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


know  how  busy  you  are  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  how 
anxious  you  are  to  get  back  to  your  mules  and  oxen,  but  I 
think  that  you  all  will  be  helped  by  a day  like  this,  and  go 
back  with  your  hearts  lightened  by  hearing  of  each  other’s 
encouragements  and  discouragements. 

“ I want  to  emphasize  the  object  of  these  conferences. 
When  they  were  first  instituted,  it  was  to  confine  ourselves 
mainly  to  conditions  within  our  own  power  to  remedy.  We 
might  discuss  many  wrongs  which  should  be  righted ; but  it 
seems  to  me  that  it  is  best  to  lay  hold  of  the  things  we  can 
put  right  rather  than  those  we  can  do  nothing  but  find  fault 
with.  Be  perfectly  frank  with  each  other ; state  things  as 
they  are  ; do  not  say  anything  for  mere  sound,  or  because  you 
think  it  will  please  one  or  displease  another ; let  us  hear  the 
truth  on  all  matters.  We  have  many  things  to  discourage  and 
disappoint  us,  and  we  sometimes  feel  that  we  are  slipping  back- 
ward ; but,  I believe,  if  we  do  our  duty  in  getting  property, 
Christian  education,  and  character,  in  some  way  or  other  the 
sky  will  clear  up,  and  we  shall  make  our  way  onward.” 

Unlike  several  previous  conferences,  this  one  was  favored 
with  bright  skies.  No  rain  clouds  or  swollen  streams  dis- 
couraged the  attendance.  Doubtless,  this  accounts  for  the 
presence  of  so  many  women  at  this  session.  Hitherto,  the 
men  have  said  that  the  women  knew  too  much  already,  and 
that  they  did  not  need  the  benefit  derived  from  attending  these 
annual  meetings.  But  the  women  came  in  larger  numbers 
than  ever.  They  constituted  fully  one-third  of  the  Confer- 
ence at  the  morning  session.  In  the  afternoon  they  had  a 
meeting  of  their  own,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in  the 
following  pages.  Some  came  walking ; others  had  left  home  as 
early  as  midnight  in  order  to  be  here  on  time.  They  came  on 
all  manner  of  vehicles  and  conveyances ; some  on  horses  and 
mules,  others  on  the  patient  donkey.  The  ox-cart  was  also 
here,  and  many  mud-bespattered  buggies  and  wagons.  Old 
men  and  old  women,  in  whose  faces  could  be  seen  the  marks 
of  the  “ old  regime,”  came  from  the  sand  hills  and  planta- 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


9 


tions  of  Alabama  to  spend  one  day  in  school.  Such  is  the 
spectacle  witnessed  at  every  negro  conference  at  this  place. 

These  men  and  women  came  together  not  to  air  their 
grievances ; nor  to  whine  against  the  injustice  of  the  present 
social  conditions ; nor  to  demand  the  ballot  as  the  imperative 
need  to  change  the  present  status  of  society  in  the  South  ; nor 
to  inveigh  against  the  tyranny  of  monopolies,  the  selfishness 
of  the  rich  and  helplessness  of  the  poor.  None  of  these 
things  came  up  for  discussion ; but,  under  the  wise  and  sober 
leadership  of  Booker  T.  Washington,  they  were  trying  to  find 
out  what  they  could  do  to  help  themselves.  They  believe 
in  the  philosophy  of  “Uncle  Remus:”  “Fussing  about  the 
weather  is  mighty  poor  farming.” 

The  following  is  a list  of  visitors  who  were  present  at  the 
Conference : 

Miss  Briggs,  Boston,  Mass.;  Rt.  Rev.  B.  T.  Tanner,  Philadelphia;  Rev. 
Pitt  Dillingham,  Calhoun,  Ala. ; Rev.  F.  X.  Chase,  Fisk  University,  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. ; Rev.  E.  C.  Mitchell,  Leland  University,  New  Orleans;  Rev. 
.1.  Q.  Johnson,  Princeton,  N.  J. ; President  Charles  F.  Meserve,  Shaw 
University,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ; Mr.  Daniel  C.  Smith,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; Mrs. 
Victoria  E.  Mathews,  New  York  City  ; Mrs.  X.  D.  Munson,  New  York 
City;  Mrs.  X.  S.  Steele,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.;  Prof.  I.  N.  Randall,  Lincoln 
University,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.;  Miss  Flora  Mitchell,  Clark  University, 
Atlanta,  Ga. ; Miss  Mary  I.  Williams,  Spelman  Seminary,  Atlanta,  Ga. ; 
Miss  Margaret  .-Vitken,  Spelman  Seminary,  Atlanta,  Ga. ; Miss  Mabel  Hay 
Barrow.s,  Boston,  Mass.;  Mi.ss  Virginia  Holbrook,  Boston,  Mass.;  Rev. 
Wilbur  P.  Thirkield,  Gammon  Theological  Seminary,  ,\tlanta,  Ga. ; Mrs. 
D.  M.  Benjamin,  Milwaukee,  Wis. ; Miss  .\.  E.  Cleveland,  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y. ; Mr.  John  E.  Gale,  Haverhill,  Mass.;  Mrs.  J.  L.  Kaine,  Milwaukee, 
Wis.;  Mr.  R.  O.  Simpson,  Furman,  Ala.;  The  Misses  Stokes,  New  York 
City;  Rev.  F.  H.  .Means,  Windham,  Conn.;  Miss  Charlotte  R.  Thorn, 
Calhoun,  Ala. ; Miss  Hattie  Cooper,  Calhoun,  Ala.;  Rev.  A.  L.  Phillips, 
Tuscaloosa,  .\la. ; Rev.  O.  B.  Wilson,  Tuscaloosa,  Ala. ; Rev.  H.  H.  Proc- 
tor, Atlanta,  Ga.;  Miss  Pierce,  Plaineville,  Conn.;  Mrs.  H.  B.  Sharp, 
Boydton  Institute,  Boydton,  Va. ; Miss  .\.  L.  White,  Montgomery  Indus- 
trial School,  Montgomery,  Ala.;  Miss  Frances  C.  Baylor,  Norfolk,  Va. ; 
Miss  Cornelia  Bowen,  Waugh,  Ala.;  Prof.  Thos.  N.  Chase,  .\tlanta  Univer- 
sity ; Prof.  W.  B.  Paterson,  Montgomery,  Ala. ; Mr.  Charles  W.  Hare, 
Editor  Tuskegee  News;  Mr.  W.  F.  Crockett,  Montgomery,  Ala.;  Rev.  W. 
H.  Mixon,  Selma,  .\la. ; Mr.  W.  H.  Stewart,  State  University,  Louisville, 
Ky. ; Mr.  R.  L.  Ruffin,  Birmingham,  Ala.;  Rev.  F.  G.  Snelson,  Athens, 


10 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


Ga. ; Rev.  H.  B.  Delany,  St.  Augustine  School,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ; Mr.  G.  G. 
McLaury,  Selma,  Ala.;  Rev.  R.  C.  Bedford,  Rockton,  111. 

Letters  of  regret  were  received  from  President  Merrill  E.  Gates,  of 
Amherst  College ; Rev.  Dr.  C.  D.  Hartranft,  of  Hartford  Theological  Sem- 
inary ; President  Thomas  J.  Calloway,  of  Alcorn  College,  Miss. ; Charles 
H.  Corey,  of  the  Richmond  (Va.)  Theological  Seminary  ; W.  B.  Weaver, 
of  the  Gloucester  Agricultural  and  Industrial  School,  Cappahosic,  Va.; 
President  Dinkins,  of  Selma  University ; President  D.  O.  John,  of  Clark 
University,  Atlanta,  Ga. ; Mrs.  Clinton  B.  Fisk,  President  of  the  Woman’s 
Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  M.  E.  Church ; Rev.  George  L.  Cheney, 
Richmond,  Va. ; Rev.  Dr.  A.  F.  Beard,  of  the  American  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation ; and  Bishop  Penick,  of  Baltimore. 

After  Mr.  Washington  had  sent  out  the  Committee  on 
Declarations,  he  called  upon  Father  Mitchell  to  speak.  Father 
Mitchell  was  one  of  the  picturesque  figures  of  the  Conference. 
He  is  about  eighty  years  of  age.  He  said  in  part : “ Now  be 
quiet.  Hold  my  hat.  How  de  settlement  is  goin’ — goin’ 
better  ’an  in  ten  year  befor : less  mortgage,  not  so  much 
cotton,  more  wheat  and  potatoes,  an’  peas,  an’  syrup.  I’m 
better  off  ’an  I ever  was  in  my  life  befor.  Preachers  are 
getting  to  God  an’  raisin’  de  people  up  out  of  deir  slow  way 
of  livin’  to  a nice  way  of  livin’.  I’m  glad  of  dat.  Now  hold 
yer  watch  on  me,  I want  ter  make  one  point  on  j’ou,  Mr. 
President,  I never  seed  de  country  so  good  on  account  of  your 
pace  up  here.  Slavery  is  all  gone  now,  an’  I hope  it  will 
never  come  back  agin.  I wants  to  give  somethin’  to  help 
feed  all  dese  people,  an’  I wants  all  of  you  farmers  to  give 
somethin.”  Father  Mitchell  at  this  point  called  for  a sub- 
scription to  help  the  school,  but  when  asked  what  he  would 
give,  said:  “I  won’t  tell  what  I’se  gwine  to  give.”  How- 
ever, many  of  the  farmers  voted  to  bring  something  out  of 
their  slender  means  to  the  next  Conference  as  a contribution 
to  the  work  of  the  institution. 

Reports  from  Sister  Conferences. 

Since  the  institution  of  this  phase  of  the  Tuskegee  move- 
ment, other  conferences  have  been  established  in  many  counties 
of  the  State.  In  some  counties  there  are  two  or  more  such 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


11 


organizations.  The  influence  of  this  movement  has  ev’^en  ex- 
tended to  other  Southern  States;  Georgia,  South  Carolina, and 
Texas  had  delegates  at  this  Conference.  Conferences  are  also 
organized  in  North  Carolina,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  Florida, 
and  Louisiana. 

Reports  from  these  sister  conferences  were  heard  with  much 
interest.  The  representative  of  the  Salem,  Ala.,  Conference, 
said  : “ We  have  been  behind  in  church  and  school  work,  but 
the  people  had  been  urged  to  hold  a conference  on  matters 
pertaining  to  their  good.  They  greatly  enjoyed  it,  and  as  a 
result  had  made  arrangements  to  build  a school-house,  and 
were  trying  to  get  homes  and  mortgage  their  crops  less  than 
ever  before. 

The  representative  of  the  Snow  Hill,  Ala.,  Conference,  said 
that  they  had  built  a large  school-house,  and  were  cultivating 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  connection  with  their  school.  They 
have  four  teachers  and  the  school  term  was  eiglit  months  long. 
He  said  about  twenty  had  purchased  homes.  The  last  Con- 
ference was  held  June  31st,  and  was  the  second  held  at  that 
place.  Many  were  still  under  the  weight  of  the  mortgage 
system,  but  are  getting  out  as  fast  as  possible.  Through  this 
Conference  a strong  sentiment  had  been  created  against  the 
mortgage  system  and  in  favor  of  purchasing  homes.  There 
are  several  colored  farmers  in  this  community  who  own  from 
one  to  two  hundred  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  R.  O.  Simpson,  a Southern  white  gentleman,  of  Snow 
Hill,  was  introduceil  to  the  Conference  and  was  asked  to  say 
a few  words.  Mr.  Simpson  is  a large  planter  and  merchant, 
and  was  formerly  a slave-owner.  He  takes  great  interest  in 
the  school  and  church  work  of  the  colored  people.  He  said  : 
“ The  colored  people  make  better  citizens  when  they  own 
homes.  I was  a slave-holder,  and  was  reared  among  the 
colored  people.  Some  of  them  buy  more  land  than  they  are 
able  to  pay  for  or  take  care  of.  Our  colored  teachers  are 
doing  good  work  ; they  are  all  graduates  of  Tuskegce.  The 
laws  of  the  State  make  mortgages  a necessity  where  a man 


12 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


owns  no  real  property  or  is  not  able  to  feed  his  own  family  or 
stock.  I advise  everyone  to  get  rid  of  mortgages,  though  I 
am  a merchant ; they  are  damaging  both  to  the  white  man 
and  the  black  man.  I attended  this  Conference  last  year,  and 
it  did  me  good.  Whatever  is  for  your  good  is  for  my  good.’’ 

Mr.  Simpson  said  that  fifteen  or  twenty  colored  men  had 
secured  small  farms  in  his  community.  He  said  also  that 
those  who  have  paid  for  their  homes  never  lose  them.  It 
may  be  said  of  Mr.  Simpson  that  he  is  a representative  of 
thousands  of  Southern  white  men — a large  number  of  that 
“ Silent  South,”  who  are  in  a quiet  way  helping  their  “brother 
in  black  ” to  make  himself  a better  citizen. 

The  farmers  of  Calhoun  County  reported  that  a land  com- 
pany had  been  formed.  In  their  Conference  it  had  been 
brought  out  that  the  colored  people  did  not  take  much  interest 
in  their  homes  because  they  did  not  own  them.  This  land 
company  had  bought  forty  acres  for  $265.00.  This  was  put 
under  cultivation  and  the  profits  equally  divided.  There  are 
twenty-seven  members  in  the  company,  two  of  whom  own 
more  than  forty  acres  each.  The  land  is  worth  from  $8.00 
to  $10.00  per  acre.  In  their  community  the  white  people  are 
willing  to  sell  the  negro  any  number  of  acres  he  is  able  to 
pay  for. 

President  Thirkield,  of  the  Gammon  Theological  Seminary, 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  spoke  of  the  conference  which  had  been  held  at 
Lagrange,  Ga.  This  conference  is  an  outgro\vth  of  the  Tuske- 
gee  movement,  and  has  accomplished  much  good. 

Declarations. 

At  this  point  Mr.  James  D.  McCall,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Declarations,  made  the  following  report,  which 
formed  the  basis  of  discussion  during  the  Conference. 

The  judgment  of  the  Fifth  Annual  Tuskegee  Negro  Con- 
ference, as  to  the  matters  brought  before  it,  is  expressed  in  the 
following  declarations  : 


riFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


13 


1.  We  are  more  and  more  convinced,  as  we  gather  in  these 
Annual  Conferences,  that  we  shall  secure  our  rightful  place 
as  citizens  in  proportion  as  we  possess  Christian  character, 
education,  and  property.  To  this  end  we  urge  parents  to 
exercise  rigid  care  in  the  control  of  their  children,  the  doing 
away  with  the  one-room  cabin  and  the  mortgage  habit ; we 
urge  the  purchase  of  land,  improved  methods  of  farming, 
diversified  crops,  attention  to  stock-raising,  dairying,  fruit- 
growing, and  more  interest  in  learning  the  trades,  now  too 
much  neglected. 

2.  We  urge  that  a larger  proportion  of  our  college  educated 
men  and  women  give  the  race  the  benefit  of  their  education, 
along  industrial  lines,  and  that  more  educated  ministers  and 
teachers  settle  in  the  country  districts. 

3.  As  in  most  places  the  public  schools  are  in  session  only 
three  or  four  months  during  the  year,  we  urge  the  people,  by 
every  means  possible,  to  supplement  this  time  by  at  least  three 
or  four  additional  months  each  year,  that  no  sacrifice  be  con- 
sideretl  too  great  to  keep  the  children  in  school,  and  that  only 
the  best  teachers  be  employed. 

4.  We  note,  with  pleasure,  the  organization  of  other  Con- 
ferences, and  we  advise  that  the  number  be  still  more  largely 
increased. 

As  we  look  back  over  the  five  annual  sessions  of  this  Con- 
ference, we  are  convinced  that  marked  imj)rovement  has  been 
made,  among  the  masses,  in  getting  rid  of  the  one-room  cabin, 
in  the  purchase  of  laud,  in  greater  economy,  in  getting  out  of 
debt,  in  the  raising  of  more  footl  sup})lies,  in  the  more  con- 
siderate treatment  of  women,  a greater  desii’e  for  education,  a 
higher  standard  of  morals,  and  a widespread  and  intense  pur- 
pose to  get  into  better  conditions. 

1.  The  One-Room  Cabin. 

The  one-room  cabin  was  the  first  j)art  of  the  Declarations 
discussed  by  the  Conference.  This  is  preeminently  one  source 
of  the  moral  degradation  of  the  negro.  Often  large  families 


14 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE, 


of  fifteen  or  luoi’e  occupy  these  hovels,  thus  rendering  privacy 
an  impossibility.  Here  we  also  find  the  cause  of  consumption 
and  kindred  diseases,  contracted  in  these  one-room  cabins, 
which  too  frequently  are  not  proof  against  the  inclemency  of 
the  weather.  Thus  the  death  rate  of  the  negro  is  increased  ; 
thus  his  morals  and  his  health  are  menaced.  But  the  one- 
room  cabin  is  doomed.  The  educational  value  of  these  Con- 
ferences is  no  more  clearly  seen  than  in  the  general  effort 
made  to  obtain  larger  houses. 

As  county  after  county  was  heard  from,  it  was  evident  that 
the  one-room  cabin  is  fast  disappearing.  Many  voices  spoke 
to  the  following  effect : From  Mt.  Meigs  it  was  reported 

that  few  were  contented  to  live  in  such  a house,  though  there 
were  none  in  the  family  but  husband  and  wife.  If  they 
could  do  no  better,  they  would  build  a pole  house  for  addi- 
tional room.  A Tuskegee  student  from  Lowndesboro  said 
the  houses  were  very  small  in  her  district — more  like  a cotton- 
seed house  than  a place  to  live  in  ; whereupon  one  of  the  dele- 
gates, with  great  disgust,  cried  out : “ Dem  darkies  ain’t  free. 
I lives  in  a free  community.”  Another  delegate,  from  Barbour 
County,  said : “ I live  in  a six-room  house.  Our  people  are 

getting  out  of  the  one-room  cabin  as  fast  as  possible.  I put 
them  down  as  hogs  who  live  in  a one-room  house.”  Father 
Mitchell  said:  “At  Warrior  Stand,  where  I lives,  you  can’t 

give  a man  a one-room  cabin.  We  jest  goin’  right  along.” 
Rev.  G.  W.  Jeter,  of  Cowles  Station,  said:  “No  one  who 

has  visited  these  Conferences  lives  in  a one-room  house.  We 
need  one  thousand  Washingtons — one  at  ev’ery  cross-road,  on 
every  mountain  top.  I have  had  fifteen  children,  fourteen 
living,  and  never  liv'ed  in  a one-room  house.”  Another  dele- 
gate said  : “ Where  people  own  land  they  are  more  apt  to 

have  a larger  house.  The  average  log  cabin  costs  from  $10,00 
to  $12.00.  Many  of  the  colored  people  in  my  section  moved 
away  because  the  white  folks  would  not  build  them  better 
houses.”  The  young  lady  who  made  this  remark  was  scarcely 
through,  when  one  of  the  farmers  said,  to  the  amusement  of 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


15 


the  Conference  : “ The  }"Oung  lady  are  right.”  The  report 

frona  Kowaliga  showed  one  hundred  families  owning  four 
thousand  acres  of  land. 

Substantial  progress  along  the  line  of  house-building  is 
seen  to  the  best  advantage  in  Macon  County,  in  and  near 
Tuskegee.  Mr.  Albert  Johnson  reports  eighty-two  persons 
who  had  bought  and  paid  for  houses  within  the  last  two 
years.  Twenty-five  others  have  now  paid  one-half  the  price 
in  the  same  time. 

2.  The  Purchase  of  Land. 

If  these  Conferences  have  helped  the  people  along  any  one 
line,  they  certainly  have  made  them  see  the  necessity  of  obtain- 
ing land.  The  mortgage  system  has  operated  very  seriously 
against  this.  While  some  of  the  members  of  the  Conference 
had  been  able  to  purchase  land  within  the  last  year  or  two, 
the  vast  majority  is  still  hampered  by  the  mortgage  system. 
This  is  the  condition  of  the  race  throughout  the  entire  Black 
Belt.  It  is  not  that  the  whites  will  not  sell  the  negro  land. 
It  may  be  said  that  throughout  the  South  there  is  a general 
disposition  to  allow  the  negro  to  accomplish  whatever  he  can 
in  this  direction.  Not  a few  cases  could  be  mentional  in 
which  the  whites  have  encouraged  and  helped  the  blacks  to 
accumulate  landal  j)roperty.  However,  it  would  not  be  wide 
of  the  truth  to  say  that  four-fifths  of  the  negro  farmers  still 
allow  the  most  binding  mortgages  to  be  made  upon  their 
implanted  crops,  and  that  frequently  in  the  fall  all  a man  has 
raised  is  swept  away  to  pay  the  mortgage.  He  has  neither 
money  nor  provision  to  subsist  upon  during  the  winter. 

A representative  from  Benton  reported  fifteen  |Xjrsons 
who  owncil  1,800  acres  of  land,  with  good  homes.  Another 
from  Russell  County  spoke  of  hard  times  by  reason  of 
mortgages.  Very  few  were  encouraged  or  had  the  money 
to  buy  land.  A Presiding  Elder  said : “ In  my  circuit  I 

have  been  over  many  counties  in  the  Black  Belt,  and  I notice 
a general  improvement,  on  the  whole,  in  the  purchase  of 


16 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


land.”  A teacher  from  Montgomery  County  said  : “ We  are 
desiring  but  not  owning  much  yet,”  In  Wetumpka  the 
colored  people  last  year  invested  $3,500  in  land.  Fifteen 
families  in  Birmingham  were  said  to  own  $5,000  worth  of 
real  estate.  Near  Cowles  Station  the  colored  jieople  owned 
1,527  acres  of  land.  At  Mt,  Meigs  the  colored  people  owned 
nearly  $40,000  worth  of  landed  property.  Thus  the  reports 
ran  concerning  the  purchase  of  land.  In  several  places  the 
colored  people  could  not  buy  land  because  they  could  not 
purchase  a whole  plantation.  Planters  were  unwilling  to  sell 
small  farms.  It  was  suggested  that  a good  service  would  be 
done  in  buying  large  plantations  and  selling  them  out  to 
colored  people  in  tracts  suited  to  them.  This  principle  has 
been  followed  with  good  results  in  various  parts  of  the  South, 

3,  Economy. 

The  Conference  next  took  up  the  question  of  economy.  It 
may  be  said  that  the  negro  of  the  South  is  v’ery  wasteful, 
both  of  time  and  money.  The  Conferences  from  the 
beginning  have  emphasized  the  idea  that  farmers  must  work 
Saturdays  as  well  as  other  days  of  the  week,  winter  as  well 
as  summer.  Colored  farmers  waste  altogether  too  much  time 
on  the  street  corners  on  Saturdays.  Then,  too,  the  purchase 
of  cheap  jewelry,  candies,  and  unnecessary  articles  of  dress  has 
been  discouraged  by  these  Conferences.  When  Mr.  Wash- 
ington raised  these  questions  many  different  responses  came 
from  the  delegates.  One  said  that  a merchant  complained 
bitterly  that  his  sale  of  candies  was  nothing  like  it  used  to  be. 
From  Mt.  Meigs  the  report  came  that  a company  of  women 
had  been  organized  for  the  practice  of  economy  and  keeping 
out  of  debt.  They  clubbed  together  their  butter  and  eggs  till 
they  could  buy  one  hundred  pounds  of  meat,  at  five  cents  a 
pound,  which  at  retail  price  would  cost  ten  cents.  They  had 
bought  1,300  pounds  thus  far  and  divided  it  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  club. 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


17 


Miss  Neelie  Bowen,  a Tuskegee  graduate,  who  teaches  at 
Mt.  Meigs,  said : ‘‘  We  don’t  know  how  to  economize  time. 
We  have  organized  a farmers’  union  in  our  community,  and 
no  one  can  join  who  has  not  a model  acre  which  he  cultivates 
at  odd  times,  and  which  is  planted  wholly  with  articles  of 
food,  and  he  must  have  at  least  one  hog  in  the  pen  before  he 
can  become  a member  of  this  union.  One  man  put  a quarter 
of  an  acre  in  onions  and  realized  $14.00  in  cash  from  it.  Go 
home  and  go  to  work  and  do  something,  and  do  not  talk  so 
much.”  Great  applause  followed  these  remarks.  Another 
woman  said  : “ I was  a widow.  I had  two  children  and 

John  had  five.  I married  him  and  that  made  seven. 

He  had  only  one  room  in  the  house.  I told  him  he  had  to 
have  more  and  he  got  more.  I have  one  room  especially  for 
cooking — ’cose  I don’t  propose  to  have  everybody  see  what  I 
cooks.  I have  learned  more  to-day  than  I ever  did  before. 
Let  sardines  and  snuff  and  candy  and  red  ribbons  alone.  Buy 
one  acre  at  a time.  Some  of  you  men  just  want  to  put  us  in 
de  white  folks’  kitchen  and  feed  you,  while  you  walk  up  an’ 
down  de  road.”  Another  woman,  relating  her  experience, 
told  of  a farmer  and  his  wife  who  went  into  a country  store 
and  the  clerks  tried  to  persuade  them  to  spend  their  money 
for  things  they  did  not  need.  She  closed  by  saying  : “ You 

must  know  your  own  mind  and  learn  to  say  ‘ No.’  ” 

A great  excitement  was  creatwl  when  Nelson  Felton  took 
from  his  pocket  a mortgage  which  had  been  cancelled.  He 
held  it  up  before  the  Conference  and  said  that  he  was  going 
to  show  it  to  the  people  until  the  last  thread  of  it  was  gone. 
Prof.  Chase,  of  Fisk  University,  here  suggested  that  next  year 
all  such  cancelled  mortgages  be  brought  to  the  Conference. 

4.  The  “ Hog  Union.” 

Another  practical  application  of  the  Tuskegee  philosophy 
is  seen  in  the  formation  of  the  ‘‘Hog  Union”  in  many 
counties  of  the  State.  Many  delegates  reported  the  success  of 
2 


18 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


this  idea.  To  join  the  Union  one  must  own  a hog ; this  hog 
must  be  fattened  and  killed  and  prepared  for  home  use.  One 
thing  which  has  kept  down  the  colored  farmer  in  the  South  is 
the  fact  that  he  has  had  to  pay  two  or  three  prices  for  meat 
when  he  mortgaged  his  crop  for  home  supplies.  The  “ Hog 
Union  ” is  so  spreading  that  many  farmers  are  now  raising 
their  own  meat.  One  of  the  standing  principles  of  these 
Conferences  is  to  encourage  the  people  to  raise  all  of  their 
home  supplies.  This  was  forcibly  put  by  one  of  the  delegates, 
who  said : “ Don’t  put  all  your  ground  in  cotton.  Raise 

your  own  victuals.  Dat  will  help  kill  off  the  mortgage  bug. 
Raise  your  own  bacon,  corn  and  vegetables.”  Quite  a good 
many  declared  that  during  the  past  year  they  had  been  able 
to  raise  on  their  land  nearly  everything  in  the  shape  of  food 
used  in  the  household. 


5.  The  Model  Acre. 

The  “ Model  Acre  ” idea  is  another  instance  of  what  these 
Conferences  are  accomplishing.  Each  farmer  is  urged  to  raise 
all  he  can  on  one  acre  for  immediate  home  use.  On  this  acre 
he  is  to  plant  such  things  as  beans,  peas,  potatoes,  corn,  onions, 
etc.  All  the  time  not  put  on  the  main  crop  is  to  be  given  to 
this  acre.  One  farmer  reported  that  he  had  raised  a crop  of 
onions  on  a part  of  his  acre  and  had  realized  enough  to  keep 
his  daughter  in  school  for  one  year.  In  this  way  the  people 
are  taught  to  economize  their  time.  The  colored  farmers  of 
the  South  have  thrown  away  and  do  yet  waste  a large  amount 
of  valuable  time  by  doing  nothing  during  winter  months  and 
by  making  holidays  of  Saturdays.  This  practice  has  given 
rise  to  another  Tuskegee  principle : Work  all  the  year  round, 
Saturdays  as  well  as  other  week  days. 

On  this  same  line  of  economy,  mention  was  made  of  pistols 
and  the  large  amounts  paid  for  them.  Excursions  were  also 
condemned  as  a useless  way  to  spend  money. 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


19 


6.  The  School  Question. 

The  school  question  always  occupies  a large  part  of  the 
Conference  discussions.  The  State  of  Alabama  makes  no 
appropriations  for  the  erection  of  school-houses.  In  many 
places  the  colored  people,  stimulated  by  these  Conferences, 
have  raised  and  are  raising  money  by  private  subscription 
to  build  them.  This  idea  is  carried  into  effect  also  by  most 
of  the  Tuskegee  graduates  who  go  into  the  country  districts. 
The  redemption  of  the  race  will  be  wrought  out  in  the 
country.  Tuskegee  students  are  urged  to  go  into  these 
remote  districts  and  stay  there,  at  any  sacrifice,  until  some- 
thing is  accomplished. 

Politics  and  sectarianism  enter  too  much  into  the  schools. 
The  Conference  voted  unanimously  that  these  were  to  be  con- 
demned. 

As  .to  the  length  of  the  school  term,  it  was  found  that  in 
fifty-nine  districts  the  schools  lasted  three  months;  in  sixteen 
districts,  five  months ; in  ten  districts,  six  months ; in  four- 
teen districts,  eight  months ; in  three  districts,  nine  months. 
Thirty  districts  were  reported  as  having  extended  the  school 
term  beyond  three  months. 

One  of  the  most  promising  and  significant  outgrowths  of  the 
Tuskegee  movement  was  reported  in  this  Conference.  Mt. 
Meigs,  we  believe,  is  Tuskegee’s  eldest  daughter.  Kowaliga, 
however,  promises  to  be  as  thrifty.  Under  the  leadership  of 
Mr.  C.  J.  Calloway,  a graduate  of  Fisk  University,  this  work 
is  now  being  carried  forward.  A short  account  of  the  work 
already  accomplished  appears  in  the  following : 

“ Here  and  there  a bright  spot  is  to  be  found  even  in  the 
Black  Belt.  Kowaliga  is  such  an  oasis  in  the  desert.  This 
community  is  thirty-five  miles  from  Tuskegee,  and  fifteen 
miles  from  any  railroad  station,  'fhe  negro  population  is 
about  700.  A band  of  Tuskegee  workers  have  gone  to  this 
place  on  short  excursions  and  advised  them.  Such  an  inspi- 
ration has  been  received  from  Tuskegee  ideas  and  methods. 


20 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


that  the  common  cry  is : “ Let  us  have  a school  like  Tus- 
kegee.”  They  have  gone  to  work  themselves  to  do  what  they 
can  to  secure  permanent  buildings.  As  a result  of  three 
months  of  effort  in  that  direction,  they  have  contributed  $500 
in  labor  which  tliey  gave  at  much  sacrifice  from  their  farming. 
There  are  70,000  feet  of  lumber  on  the  grounds,  20,000 
shingles,  a school  site  of  two  acres,  all  of  whicli  has  been  paid 
for.  They  have  rented  fifteen  acres  of  land  which  they  will 
cultivate  with  volunteer  labor,  and  take  the  money  thus  re- 
alized to  supplement  the  school  fund.  They  are  in  great  need 
of  help  to  erect  the  building  which  they  have  begun,  as  money 
is  needed  to  pay  skilled  labor.  Tuskegee  is  thus  multiplying 
itself  in  the  Black  Belt  of  Alabama.” 

The  Women’s  Conference. 

This  is  preeminently  the  age  of  woman.  Even  the  colored 
women  on  remote  cotton  plantations  begin  to  feel  that  they 
must  come  forward  in  the  march  of  progress  with  their 
husbands  and  sons.  Surely  here  is  great  field  for  Christian 
effort.  Tuskegee,  true  to  her  destiny,  has  begun  this  work 
already.  Some  of  the  lady  teachers  of  the  Institute  meet  the 
country  women  every  Saturday  afternoon  in  a hired  hall  in 
the  town  of  Tuskegee.  This  work  was  begun  several  years 
ago  by  Mrs.  B.  T.  Washington  and  Dr.  Halle  Tanner  Johnson 
who  was  then  resident  physician  at  the  school.  It  has  steadily 
grown  in  numbers  and  interest.  We  believe  that  from  this 
little  mission  grew  the  idea  of  the  Woman’s  Conference.  All 
hail,  then,  to  the  colored  women  of  the  South,  coming  from 
the  cotton  patch,  from  the  cornfield,  from  the  hoe,  from  the 
plow,  from  the  kitchen,  from  the  washtub,  to  spend  one  day 
in  school  at  Tuskegee.  Down-trodden  and  forced  into  wrong 
for  well-nigh  three  hundred  years,  the  colored  womanhood  of 
the  nation  is  just  now  beginning  to  rise  from  the  dust. 

In  the  afternoon  about  two  hundred  of  these  country  women 
met  in  Phelps  Hall  to  discuss  practical  home  questions.  Mrs. 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CX)NFEEENCE. 


21 


B.  T.  Washington  presided.  This  was  a very  helpful  meeting. 
Many  important  questions  were  brought  up,  such  as : The 
death  rate  among  children ; cleanliness,  and  care  of  the  home  ; 
the  necessity  of  good  character  in  ministers  and  teachers ; the 
cultivation  of  closer  relation  between  mother  and  son,  as  well 
as  between  mother  and  daughter.  It  was  urged  that  attention 
be  given  to  bee  culture,  poultry-raising,  the  drying  and  can- 
ning of  wild  and  cultivated  fruits,  also  that  a conference  of 
women  be  formed  in  every  community. 

This  Conference,  at  the  close  of  its  deliberations,  adopted 
the  following  resolutions : 

1.  We  realize  that  our  homes  are  not  always  what  they 
should  be.  We  believe  that  much  of  the  immorality  which 
now  exists  can  be  traced  to  the  one-room  cabin.  We  urge 
upon  every  woman  to  insist  upon  the  securing  of  more  than 
one  room. 

2.  It  is  true  that  the  death  rate  of  the  race,  especially  of 
little  children,  is  on  the  increase.  This  is  largely  due  to  the 
lack  of  proper  conditions  of  home  life.  There  is  a lack  of 
cleanliness,  pure  air,  proper  clothing  and  proper  food.  We 
urge  that  every  woman  keep  her  home  clean,  well  aired,  and 
her  children  well  fed  and  clothed. 

3.  We  know  that  women,  by  their  efforts,  largely  support 
the  ministers  and  teachers.  We  urge  upon  every  woman  to 
see  to  it  that  only  strictly  moral  men  and  women  occupy  their 
pulpits  and  teach  their  children. 

4.  We  believe  that  it  depends  upon  the  women  as  to  whether 
or  not  we  receive  the  respect  of  men,  especially  of  our  men. 
Some  women  are  too  careless  as  to  the  loud  manner  in  which 
they  act  on  the  streets  and  in  other  public  places,  such  as 
churches,  railway  stations,  and  the  like.  Some  are  unduly 
familiar  with  men.  We  urge  that  each  woman  see  to  it  that 
in  the  streets  and  in  other  public  places  she  speak  in  a quiet 
tone  of  voice,  that  she  refrain  from  spitting  on  the  street,  and 
that  she  does  not  at  any  time  act  familiarly  with  men. 


22 


FIFTH  TTJSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


5.  We  believe  that  there  is  still  room  for  improvement 
among  some  of  our  women  as  to  the  manner  of  their  dress. 
We  urge  that  neat  calico  or  gingham  dresses  of  modest  color 
take  the  place  of  the  coarse  homespun  one;  that  the  dark- 
colored  sailor  hat  take  the  place  of  the  red  bandanna ; that 
women  always  wear  neat-looking  shoes,  and  that  they  never 
wear  their  hair  wrapped  in  strings. 

6.  During  certain  months  of  the  year  there  is  little  or  no 
work  for  women.  We  urge  upon  every  woman  the  raising  of 
poultry,  and,  consequently,  the  production  of  eggs,  the  mak- 
ing of  butter,  the  picking,  drying  and  canning  of  fruit,  such 
as  berries,  plums,  peaches  and  apples,  the  cultivating  of  a 
garden  and  raising  of  bees.  Let  her  sell  her  produce  to  the 
best  advantage,  reserving  a portion  for  home  use.  Let  the 
woman  grasp  every  opportunity  to  help  her  husband,  in  order 
that  the  purchase  of  a home  may  be  more  possible. 

7.  We  believe  that  there  should  be  a close  confidence 
between  mother  and  son,  as  well  as  between  mother  and 
daughter.  We  urge  that  mothers  seek  to  gain  the  confidence 
of  their  children,  and  thus  be  in  position  to  guide  them  aright. 

8.  We  believe  that  in  every  community  there  should  exist 
a conference  where  women  may  come  together  and  confer  upon 
the  best  methods  of  improving  the  home  life,  the  rearing  of 
children,  and  doing  everything  possible  to  lift  the  standard  of 
womanhood. 


The  Workers’  Conference. 

Many  teachers  from  institutions  founded  for  the  education 
of  colored  people,  remained  over  till  the  next  day.  May  6,  to 
attend  the  Workers’  Conference.  Among  them  were  Presi- 
dent Meserve,  of  Shaw  University,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ; President 
Randall,  of  Lincoln  University ; President  Mitchell,  of  Le- 
land  University ; Rev.  Pitt  Dillingham,  of  the  Calhoun  School, 
Calhoun,  Ala. ; Professor  Chase,  of  Atlanta  University ; Pro- 
fessor Delaney,  of  St.  Augustine  School,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ; 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


23 


Professor  F.  A.  Chase,  of  Fisk  University ; and  President 
W.  P.  Thirkield,  of  Gammon  Theological  Seminary. 

Mr.  Washington  was  elected  Chairman  of  this  meeting. 
In  his  opening  remarks  he  said  that  the  object  of  this  meeting 
was  to  have  reports  from  the  various  educational  institutions 
represented  in  the  Conference,  and  to  find  out  to  what  extent 
they  were  meeting  the  needs  of  the  masses.  Eighty-five  per 
cent,  of  the  negroes  lived  in  the  country  districts.  Are  they 
being  reached  ? Many  of  the  educated  colored  men  flock  to 
the  cities  to  find  more  renumerative  employment.  Some  sacri- 
fice must  be  made  if  the  great  majority  of  the  race  is  to  be 
reached.  This  country  problem  demands  more  of  our  attention 
than  it  has  received. 

The  Conference  then  made  the  declarations  of  the  previous 
day  the  basis  of  the  discussion. 

Rev.  Dr.  A.  L.  Phillips,  of  Tuscaloosa,  spoke  of  the  great 
necessity  of  an  educated  ministry  for  the  colored  people.  The 
race  needed  a large  number  of  ministers  who  were  well  trained 
in  the  English  Bible,  and  who  were  willing  to  go  to  the 
people  and  do  the  work  of  missionaries.  He  emphasized  the 
great  call  for  this  ministry  in  the  country  districts.  They 
must  go  to  these  remote  places,  and  be  willing  to  work  for  a 
part  of  their  living. 

Dr.  Phillips  is  a southern  white  man,  and  represented  the 
work  carried  on  by  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church  among 
the  negroes  of  the  South.  This  institution  is  at  Tuscaloosa, 
Ala.,  and  aims  to  give  thorough  training  in  the  English  Bible 
to  those  who  are  not  ])repared  to  take  higher  courses.  It  has 
been  very  successful  along  this  line,  and  has  sent  out  many 
consecrated  ministers  to  the  remoter  country  districts.  These 
preachers  are  urged  to  work  for  a part  of  their  support  by 
following  some  other  occupation.  Dr.  Phillips  expressed  the 
wish  that  all  ministers  had  more  of  the  Christ  idea,  which  is 
illustrated  by  such  passages  as  the  following  one:  ‘‘And  when 
He  saw  the  multitude,  He  was  moved  with  compassion.” 


24 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


President  Thirkield,  of  Gammon  Seminary,  spoke  of  the 
work  which  had  been  done  by  the  uneducated  negro  ministers. 
They  have  built  a large  number  of  churches,  worth  many 
millions  of  dollars.  They  have  held  the  great  mass  of  the 
colored  people  in  the  churches.  Can  we  hold  the  rising 
generation  to  the  church  ? More  Bible  schools  like  Phelps 
Hall  were  needed.  Not  as  many  men  go  into  the  ministry 
as  formerly,  and  people  do  not  now  give  as  much  to  the 
church.  While  not  combatting  the  idea  that  the  country 
districts  needed  a better  class  of  ministers.  Dr.  Thirkield 
showed  that  the  demand  of  the  cities  was  quite  as  great. 

Mr.  Washington  also  urged  that  both  teachers  and  preachers 
going  into  the  country  should  follow  some  kind  of  pursuit 
besides  their  profession.  He  thought  that  the  minister  who 
preached  two  sermons  a week  and  attended  one  prayer-meeting 
must  necessarily  have  a good  deal  of  time  on  his  hands. 

President  Mitchell,  of  Leland  University,  New  Orleans, 
speaking  of  the  colored  school  teachers  of  the  State  of  Missis- 
sippi, said  that  there  were  603  who  held  first  grade  certificates. 
All  were  examined  by  boards  of  education  composed  entirely 
of  white  men,  who  were  disposed  to  give  the  negro  justice. 
The  colored  people  are  as  intelligent  as  the  whites  of  the 
same  generation.  Of  two  teachers’  institutes,  one  colored  and 
the  other  white,  there  were  fourteen  college  graduates  in  the 
colored  and  only  four  in  the  white.  Dr.  Mitchell  attributed 
this  to  the  work  done  by  the  Northern  missionary  schools. 
In  many  parts  of  the  South  the  negro  has  a better  chance  to 
get  a higher  education  than  the  whites.  The  colored  teachers 
from  these  schools  are  better  than  the  white  teachers.  Unlike 
some  other  parts  of  the  South — Charleston,  S.  C.,  notably, — 
there  are  no  white  teachers  in  the  common  schools  of  Missis- 
sippi. 

During  the  morning  session  a lively  discussion  was  held  on 
the  relation  of  the  college  educated  man  and  woman  to  the 
masses.  It  was  conceded  that,  while  the  race  has  many  such 
men  and  women,  it  has  but  few  who  are  able  to  lead  the 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


25 


people  along  industrial  lines.  Mr.  Washington  pointed  out 
that  many  industries  which  were  formerly  under  the  exclusive 
control  of  the  colored  people  are  fast  slipping  from  them.  A 
large  colored  church  was  being  built  in  a Southern  city,  but 
the  work  was  all  done  by  white  men,  because  no  colored  men 
had  fitted  themselves  for  the  task.  Laundry  work  was  once 
almost  entirely  done  by  the  colored  people  of  the  South,  but 
now  the  modern  steam  laundry  has  taken  this  largely  out  of 
their  hands.  Mr.  Washington  holds  that  the  college  man 
should  apply  his  superior  knowledge  to  the  practical  affairs  of 
life — his  chemistry  to  scientific  agriculture,  his  mathematics 
to  land  surveying,  etc.  He  doubted  if  at  present  many  young 
colored  men  were  preparing  themselves  as  agricultural  cliem- 
ists.  All  higher  education  should  be  turned  into  practical 
account.  College  men  should  not  all  try  to  become  lawyers 
and  doctors  and  ministers  (as  much  as  these  are  needed),  but 
many  more  should  become  captains  of  industry,  contractors 
and  builders ; in  fact,  they  should  prepare  themselves  for  the 
less  pretentious  but  more  fundamental  pursuits  of  life. 

The  Conference  made  no  warfare  against  the  higher  educa- 
tion of  the  race.  It  claimed,  on  the  contrary,  that  all  kinds 
of  education — industrial  and  academic,  scientific  and  literary — 
were  neces.sary  and  important. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions,  appointed  to  express  the^ 
sense  of  the  meeting  as  to  the  matters  discussed,  consisted  of 
the  following  members:  Prof.  Thomas  N.  Chase,  of  Atlanta 
University ; President  W.  P.  'Phirkield,  of  Gammon  Semi- 
nary ; President  Randall,  of  Lincoln  University ; President 
Mitchell,  of  Leland  University,  New  Orleans;  Prof.  Delaney, 
of  St.  Augustine  School,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ; Rev.  Dr.  A.  L. 
Phillips,  of  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.;  and  Rev.  H.  H.  Proctor,  of 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

The  following  resolutions  were  reported  and  passed  by  the 
WorKC..-’  Conference : 

Resolved,  First,  That  we  regard  universal  industrial  edu- 
cation as  fundamental  to  the  prosperity  of  our  whole  people, 


26 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


and  feel  grateful  for  the  generous  support  which  it  has  re- 
ceived in  Tuskegee  and  other  similar  institutions.  We  also 
expre.ss  our  conviction  that  the  higher  education  of  many 
young  women  and  young  men  is  not  secondary  in  importance, 
both  because  of  its  effect  in  dev’eloping  the  mind,  and  the 
wide  field  which  it  opens  up  for  educational  work  in  the 
higher  schools. 

Resolved,  Second,  That  we  invite  the  attention  of  college 
graduates  to  the  need  of  intelligent  leadership  in  the  conduct 
of  all  the  common  industries,  which  are  rapidlv  passing  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  colored  people  into  the  management  of 
companies  which  monopolize  the  work,  but  do  not  give  the 
colored  workers  employment. 

Resolved,  Third,  That  we  especially  emphasize  the  duty  of 
all  college  graduates  to  encourage  by  instruction  all  who  labor 
in  manual  industries,  and  to  add  to  their  instructions  the  force 
of  their  own  example. 

Resolved,  Fourth,  That  we  express  our  strong  conviction 
that,  in  the  matter  of  general  education,  the  various  Christian 
churches  and  ministers  should  unite  to  secure  a better  school 
and  a longer  term,  and  that  all  denominational  ism  should  be 
excluded  from  public  education. 

Resolved,  Fifth,  That  we  urge  all  teachei's  in  State  schools, 
during  the  time  of  their  labor  in  any  district,  thoroughly  to 
identify  themselves  with  every  interest  of  the  people  in  their 
homes  and  occupations. 

Resolved,  Sixth,  That  we  remind  all  our  teachers  that  their 
work  is  of  a truly  missionary  character,  and  that  the  best 
reward  of  their  self-denying  labor  will  be,  not  their  salary, 
but  the  blessing  of  the  Son  of  Man.  On  the  other  hand,  we 
remind  the  patrons  of  such  schools  that  the  “ laborer  is  worthy 
of  his  hire,”  and  urge  them  to  make  more  liberal  provision 
for  their  support. 

Resolved,  Sev^enth,  That  this  Conference  express  its  convic- 
tion of  the  supreme  importance  of  an  immediate  and  a larger 
increase  of  godly  and  thoroughly  educated  ministers  of  the 


FIFTH  TUSKEGEE  NEGRO  CONFERENCE. 


27 


Gospel,  who  will  be  willing  to  labor  in  the  country  districts, 
where  eighty-five  per  cent,  of  the  people  live. 

Another  resolution,  urging  the  appointment  of  an  agent  by 
the  State  for  the  purpose  of  arousing  the  colored  people 
toward  an  educational  revival,  was  passed.  This  agent  would 
visit  every  portion  of  the  State  in  the  interest  of  the  masses 
of  the  people;  hold  teachers’  institutes;  address  the  churches; 
show  the  people  how,  by  private  subscriptions,  to  lengthen 
the  school  terms ; in  short,  emphasize  what  it  is  possible  for 
them  to  do  to  help  themselv'es. 

This  resolution  provoked  a lively  discussion.  Mr.  W.  H. 
Stewart,  Editor  of  the  American  Baptist,  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
contended  that  the  colored  people  in  Alabama  should  not  pay 
taxes  for  school  purposes  and  then  tax  themselves  further  to 
lengthen  the  school  term.  They  should  demand  an  equal 
division  of  school  moneys  and  a school  session  as  long  as  the 
whites.  The  threadbare  argument  that  the  blacks  paid  no 
taxes,  because  they  owned  no  land,  is  misleading,  since  the 
brunt  of  taxation  always  falls  on  the  laboring  man.  The 
negro  is  supremely  the  laborer  in  the  South,  and  no  other 
workingman  in  the  world  pays  higher  taxes  for  educational 
purposes  than  he.  In  Kentucky,  Mr.  Stewart  showed  that 
the  colored  people  had  won  this  point,  so  that  they  had  equal 
educational  advantages  with  the  whites.  He  believed  it  was 
time  the  movement  began  in  Alabama. 

Others,  speaking  along  the  same  line,  thought  the  State  of 
Alabama  was  doing  her  best,  and  was  too  poor  to  pay  for 
good  school-houses  throughout  the  State.  Emphasis  was  laid 
on  the  work  of  Tuskegee  graduates,  who  had  gone  into  many 
communities  and,  in  a quiet  way,  had  shown  the  people  how 
to  make  some  sacrifices  to  build  school-houses,  to  prolong  the 
school  session  from  three  to  five  months,  and,  in  some  cases, 
to  eight  and  nine  months. 

At  the  close  of  this  discussion  the  Conference  adjourned, 
the  benediction  being  pronounced  by  Bishop  Benjamin  Tucker 
Tanner,  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


JOHN  MURPHY  A CO.,  PRINTKRS, 


BALTIMORE. 


